Monday, 29 April 2013

California manhunt: Precautions at schools as search for girl’s killer continues, As the manhunt in California for the killer of an 8-year-old girl enters its third day, authorities are urging residents to keep their doors locked and to watch out for suspicious activities, The Associated Press reported April 29.

Authorities, including SWAT teams, conducted a door-to-door sweep of homes scattered across the hilly terrain, checking storage sheds and horse stables, and even searching attics in the area of Valley Springs, Calif., but all to no avail.

KFSN said that authorities would have a visible presence at schools and bus stops Monday morning if the killer remains on the lam.

Meanwhile, authorities have identified the young girl who was stabbed to death by a home intruder. The girl was identified as Leila Fowler, age 8, of Valley Springs. Previous police reports said the girl was 9. Leila was found in her home Saturday afternoon with multiple stab wounds. She died later at a hospital.

Reports indicate that a 12-year-old boy, presumably the girl’s brother, encountered an intruder in the family’s home. The man ran off after the encounter. The boy then found the girl with multiple stab wounds.

The man who is thought to have killed the girl is considered armed and dangerous, police said. He is described as being white or Latino and was last seen wearing a black shirt and blue pants.

Valley Springs is a small community of about 2,500 residents. Valley Springs is located in an unincorporated area of Calaveras County, known as “Gold Country,” in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, about 60 miles southeast of Sacramento.